Union doesn’t agree that expiration of CBA ends Judge Doty’s role

Posted by Mike Florio on February 17, 2011, 7:02 AM EDT

And the inability of the NFL and the players’ union to agree on anything continues.

The league believes that, when clock strikes 12 on the early morning of March 4 and the current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires, the NFL will forever escape what it believes to be the biased rulings of Judge David Doty.

As to any lingering claims or issues, such as collusion and “lockout insurance,” the expiration of the labor deal doesn’t provide the league a silver bullet. Beyond that, however, we’re told that the union believes the mere expiration of the agreement won’t terminate Doty’s role when it comes to interpreting the next deal.

It’s yet another attempted pressure point for an organization that doesn’t currently have much leverage. And it’s not clear how this skirmish will play out.

The current labor deal actually was the settlement agreement of the antitrust lawsuit filed by the players after the failed 1987 strike and decertification of the union. With the league sufficiently chagrined by Doty’s rulings to try to have him removed for leaning too far toward the players’ interests, it’s no surprise that the league believes/hopes that with the agreement expiring they’ll be able to finally get him off the case. But the union easily can claim that the settlement agreement governs the relationship between the parties not until any one version of the agreement expires, but until the two sides agree that the settlement agreement no longer governs the relationship.

So, basically, it’s yet another area on which the two sides will agree to disagree.

Here is the story that I am hearing…Manning came to the table and stated that he “didn’t want to break the bank!” Manning was holding out for better team mates and wants a new OC (one who can get the plays into him in a timely manner). He wanted Polian to go out on the Free Agent market and spend some money that he didn’t want. Polian told him to be a QB and not a coach and it pissed Peyton off!!! the negotiations then became heated…highly heated. Peyton then stated “OK…I will act like a player and demanded a trade!!!” Polian needs to check his ego at the door and get him signed! Peyton wants a stronger line and a new OC and will take less money…seems like those demands are not that hard!!! Get it done and don’t have the entire state of Indiana on you Polian!!!!! Franchise tag was the only way to cool both sides!

chapnastier says:Feb 17, 2011 7:16 AM

CBA is up so is all of the past agreements. Goodbye liberal judge.

dewalt2990 says:Feb 17, 2011 7:54 AM

“until the two sides agree that the settlement agreement no longer governs the relationship.” I don’t see that happening….at all… until a new cba is signed. Which means the old rules will still be in effect until it is signed because….so the deadline means nothing?

realitypolice says:Feb 17, 2011 7:58 AM

David Doty looks like a pretty happy guy.

tinopuno says:Feb 17, 2011 8:41 AM

realitypolice says: Feb 17, 2011 7:58 AM

David Doty looks like a pretty happy guy.

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He also looks a lot like ex-Idaho Senator Larry “Wide Stance” Craig

hail2tharedskins says:Feb 17, 2011 8:49 AM

Once again the union is disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing. Once the CBA expires, there are NO rules governing the relationship between the NFL and NFLPA. Once is expires its over and therefore so is Doty’s oversight, since there is nothing to oversee. Once the CBA expires the only way Doty will preside over to new CBA is if both sides agree to those terms in the new CBA, and that is unlikely to happen. Of course, this is the union negotiating and trying to get something in return for agreeing that Doty is out or it could be De Smith just “poking the bear” as he said he likes to do just to see the reaction he gets.

contract says:Feb 17, 2011 9:15 AM

“Once again the union is disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing. Once the CBA expires, there are NO rules governing the relationship between the NFL and NFLPA.”

That conflicts with the owners stance on the franchise & transition tags and restricted free agency.

Can’t wait for the union’s antitrust suit – which they will no doubt file in the Ninth Circuit, or, as some conservative commentators are wont to call it, the “Ninth Circle” (because the ninth circle of Hell in Dante’s Inferno is where traitors are punished – the right believing liberals to be “un-American” and in collaboration with America”s enemies).

What the Union and Players worry about most is that the fans, after a long time without the NFL games, will realize that they really don’t need the games after all.
the fans realizing that life goes on and they have their own problems.

dcninerfan says:Feb 17, 2011 11:02 AM

They need to bring in Christ Christie to deal with the union… That way it would be the fans that win, not the league or players… Lets face it, there is no league without fans. Of course, there is no league without teams or players either… but its the fan’s money and attention that drives the league. Mostly the money.